Kolkata: CPI-M General Secretary Prakash
Karat on Friday defended former Kerala Chief Minister VS
Achuthanandan, against whom an FIR was filed in a land
denotification case, saying he is an efficient leader and
alleged that a conspiracy has been hatched against him.

"Achuthanandan stands tallest as a leader who never
compromised in his fight against corruption and that has been
proved on many occasions," he told reporters here after the
party`s Central Committee meeting.

Achuthanandan is alleged to have allotted government land
to his relatives in Kasargod, Kerala, violating government
norms during his tenure as the Chief Minister.

The former Kerala Chief Minister, however, called the
"whole plot a conspiracy against him by the ruling
government".

He even offered to quit as the leader of Opposition in
Kerala Assembly if named in a charge sheet, which was,
however, rejected by the party`s central leadership earlier.

To a question, if the party would ask him now to step
down from the post, Karat said, "Let us see the development of
the case".